The W3C has gained a solid reputation by promoting free, open,
platform-neutral, and vendor-neutral standards. If the W3C now changes
its policy and recommends "standards" which may one day turn out to be
covered by patents owned by its members, and if such a scenario would
require everybody who have implemented these standard to start paying
royalty fees, then much of the incentive to follow W3C standards will have
disappeared. In fact, if the W3C adopts such a policy, it will be an
invitation for others to take on the job of promoting truly open standards
which people can count on.
Remember: The W3C has not maintained its relevance solely by having Tim
Berners-Lee as director. The W3C is relevant because it has recommended
standards which people could use with confidence.
Please continue your good work from the past and drop ALL plans to
recommend (or even tolerate) patent encumbered standards!